Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Libel suit arising from Senate race dismissed in Saline County

A libel suit that arose from 2010 Benton newspaper coverage of a Republican Senate primary race between Dan Greenberg and ultimate winner, Sen. Jeremy Hutchinson, has ended in dismissal of Greenberg's lawsuit.

Greenberg contended he'd been libeled by comments in editorials by Kristal Kuykendall for the Saline Courier, owned by Horizon Arkansas Publications. The editorials were, in part, critical of his advertising.

Judge Grisham Phillips granted the defendants' motion for summary judgment in an order signed Oct. 29.

The motion for summary judgment disputed the allegation that statements in the editorial were inaccurate or defamatory, but said that even if the statements were in error that Greenberg was a public figure and had to prove actual malice in the statements — that is, the newspaper knowingly published false information.

The judge's brief dismissal order said he issued a summary judgment based "for all the reasons advanced by defendants."

More by Max Brantley

Gov. Asa Hutchinson has responded sharply to the lawsuit challenging the legality of the state's new work requirement for Medicaid coverage and also criticizing the online-only reporting requirement. His statement:

The latest numbers from the Department of Human Services show thousands more people did not meet the reporting requirement on work hours in July to meet Medicaid eligibility standards.

Vincent Tolliver, a candidate for Little Rock, mayor, has written legislators asking the Senate Education Committee to ask Education Commissioner Johnny Key to testify about problems encountered by parents on Monday, the first day of school in the state-run Little Rock School District.

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Republican U.S. Rep. French Hill alone among Arkansas's House delegation voted last week against a measure that provided $36.5 billion in disaster aid, a portion for hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico as well as money for wildfire response and to support the flood insurance program.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson and 2nd District U.S. Rep. French Hill have refused to participate in TV debates scheduled in September.

Vincent Tolliver, a candidate for Little Rock, mayor, has written legislators asking the Senate Education Committee to ask Education Commissioner Johnny Key to testify about problems encountered by parents on Monday, the first day of school in the state-run Little Rock School District.

A lawsuit was filed today in the federal court for the District of Columbia challenging Arkansas's work requirement for many Medicaid recipients.

Rep. John Lewis, the civil rights legend, will visit Little Rock Sunday afternoon for a fund-raiser for state Rep. Clarke Tucker, the Democratic candidate for 2nd District Congress against Republican Rep. French Hill.